Developing Self-Esteem in Young Children

Guidance of Young Children
Tenth Edition
Chapter 7
Self-Esteem and the Moral
Self
Copyright © 2019, 2015, 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Learning Objectives
• Explain how each of the four separate parts of the self is
different from the other parts.
• Explain each of the three building blocks of self-esteem.
• Analyze the effect of a child’s social setting on the
development of her self-esteem.
• Explain the meaning and development of the moral self.
• Explain how teachers can help children develop authentic
self-esteem.

Parts of the Self (1 of 2)
The ‘Self’ is a mental structure, a set of ideas that humans
gradually build or construct

Parts of the Self (2 of 2)
• Self-awareness
• Self-concept
• Self-control
• Self-esteem

Self-Awareness
• Refers to an idea that a child views himself as separate
from others
• Development occurs during the first year as the perpetual
system develops
• Continues to develop through early childhood
• Realization that a child can make things happen
• Must be in place before self-esteem can be developed

Self-Concept
• Knowledge that a child acquires about her self
• Gradually gather information about physical appearance
and abilities, gender, intellectual abilities, and
interpersonal skills
• Occurs at the same time as more general changes in
cognitive development
• Includes gender constancy, some things remain the same
despite apparent changes
• Affects behavior

Self-Control
• Refers to controlling impulses, tolerating frustration, and
delaying immediate gratification
• Basis of intentional and deliberate behavior
• Effected by environment and socioeconomic status
• May be developed though high-quality imaginative play
• Better able to be regulated as children age

Self-Esteem
• Refers to how a child evaluates the self about whom she
has learned

Building Blocks of Self-Esteem
• Competence
• Control
• Worth

Competence
• The ability to meet demands for achievement
• Grows over time and with effort
• Must work for it
• Understanding that things happened through one’s own
effort rather than trying to force or manipulate others into
doing things for them
• Developed through good feedback: genuine, positive and
accompanied by suggestions for change when appropriate
• May be affected by motivation

Control
• Degree to which a child thinks he is responsible for how
things turn out
• A lifelong issue
• Critical aspect of self-esteem
• Affected by teachers and parents

Worth
• Refers to a child’s general sense of his own social value,
significance to others

Self-Esteem Develops in a Social Context
or Setting

Adults Influence a Child’s Self-Esteem:
Garbage in, Garbage out
• Children’s opinion about their competence, control, and
worth develops out of interaction with family members,
teachers, and others in their social environment
• Reflected in adults attitude toward children
• self-esteem affected by children’s belief that adults
possess superior wisdom and judgments
• Significant adults feed data through words, facial
expressions, and actions
• Negative data leads to negative self-esteem

Bullying: Effect on Self-Esteem
• A form of aggression in which a child intends to humiliate
or hurt the victim
• Involves repeated negative acts in which the bully enjoys
hurting the victim and the victim feels oppressed
• Can be verbal, psychological, or physical
• Has a negative effect of self-esteem

Moral Identity

What is Moral Identity?
• A person who uses moral principles refers to moral
identity
• Willingness to see things from another’s perspective as
well as behaving compassionately
• Every person has it yet people differ in degree to which
they use moral principles to define self
• Develops in later childhood and governs views of the
right thing to do
• Determines why a child should take a specific course of
action

Practices That Help Children Develop
Authentic Self-Esteem

Specific Practices That Affect a Child’s
Self-Esteem (1 of 2)
• Believe in and adopt an authoritative caregiving style
• Plan appropriate activities that area deserving of
children’s time
• Express genuine interest in children and their activities
• Give meaningful feedback to children

Specific Practices That Affect a Child’s
Self-Esteem (2 of 2)
• Use encouragement and avoid empty praise
• Acknowledge both pleasant and unpleasant feelings
• Demonstrate respect for all family groups and cultures:
avoid sexism and judging physical attributes
• Teach specific social skills

Practices Contributing to Unhealthy
Self-Esteem

Degrading Practices Toward Children (1 of 2)
• Child abuse or harsh discipline
• Failure to emphasize self-responsibility
• Unhelpful, over critical, negative style of communication

Degrading Practices Toward Children (2 of 2)
• Denying unpleasant feelings
• Ignoring children or spending time with them grudgingly
• Acting in a judgmental or sexist way, or showing
contempt for some families or cultural groups

Copyright

Developing Self-Esteem in Young Children

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